Leaders' Seminar

After a pretty rough night trying to sleep in a room next to a very noisy road, we had our breakfast and made a beeline for Bo's Coffee place to get a decent coffee to keep us going. Julius and Berwyn picked us up at 8.00am and we made our way to a place commonly called RTR, near Cabadbaran where Berwyn lives and pastors Mabini Christian Fellowship. In RTR is the Four Square Church that we have visited before at previous visits that is pastored by pastor Lumba. Pastors and leaders had been invited to attend a day seminar and to fellowship together over a lunch that we provided.

Our purpose was to help the leaders think about the difference between essence and form and to learn to ask the right questions in terms of what they do and why they are doing what they do. Frances and I shared the teaching and we had a lot of fun interacting with the people and challenging traditional mindsets. Our aim was not to give all the answers but for the leaders to be equipped to ask the right questions that they can answer themselves. After 2 sessions in the morning and afternoon we offered to pray for the leaders and many came forward to be ministered to. God is so faithful. Frances and I were pretty tired by the time it came to pray for over 30 people but God began to give us prophetic words and power to pray for the sick. One man felt the fire of God all over his body. Another man said he could see better after receiving prayer for healing. There were many tears and some were deeply ministered to as the Holy Spirit touched their hearts and lives with His love and presence. God's grace is truly sufficient for us as His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

We praise God for the many testimonies of leaders who said that they had received fresh revelation and felt equipped to take their ministries further. Hallelujah!

After a long but powerful time, we were invited for dinner at Berwyn and Liberty's home in Cabadbaran. It was a joy to see the whole family and I spent most of the time playing with Christopher and Christine. It was a lot of fun! I really don't mind my bald head being used as a landing pad for all sorts of animals and toys.

Thank you Lord for revealing your heart today and for bringing us back to the essence of what you have called us to as leaders and as your people.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

 

The Kingdom of God is here!

Today I led a youth seminar at RTR, a town inbetween Butuan and Cabadbaran about 45 minutes drive from Butuan. Over 60 youngsters attended and I spoke on the reality of the Kingdom of God; how Jesus came to preach about the Kingdom and demonstrated it's presence by revealing the Father's wisdom, nature and power. I then showed how Jesus modelled a life lived from the Kingdom and how He empowers the believer to live the same Kingdom life! Before our lunch break, I invited anyone who wasn't certain of their salvation and of a relationship with God to make a decision to surrender their lives to Christ and receive His life in return. Over 15 young people gave their lives to Jesus today! Hallelujah!

After our lunch break (crumbed chicken, crumbed fish, chicken soup, chinese noodles, rice, mango, bananas and blue pepsi), I taught on how God calls us to be like Him in the power of the Spirit and how we are to continue to do the works of Jesus to reveal the Kingdom. I testified to the healings I had witnessed in recent days and the young people's faith grew by the minute. I then invited everyone to be prayed for and almost all the youngsters came forward. The presence of God was awesome. The Holy Spirit ministered to these precious young people in many different ways and I just sensed how God the Father was filling His children with His love and affirmation. It was very precious and many were truly blessed by God's touch. On our way to the bus, we passed a little rope manufacturing company and when we got back to Butuan, I treated some of the youth that were with us to donuts at Dunkin Donuts. It cost me less than 10 Euro to pay for over 15 donuts and 15 soft drinks! We had a lot of fun together as I showed them pictures of my beautiful family. I am missing them!

It has been a joy to speak about the Kingdom and witness God's Kingdom invade the lives of those who believe. I believe many were wonderfully filled with the Spirit today and many received God's healing touch. God is so faithful to confirm His Word and I am so excited about what He is doing in me and through me as I simply cling to Him and live to glorify His Name! Tomorrow I will preach in the morning and in the afternoon at two different churches.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." 1 Cor. 4:20

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